Federal appropriations will help Ohio University increase the quality of life for Ohioans

Dec. 21, 2007By Linda Lockhart

Ohioans will benefit from several Ohio University projects funded by the Congress in an Omnibus spending bill expected to be signed into law today by President George W. Bush.

Due to the efforts of Reps. Charlie Wilson, Dave Hobson and Zack Space, and Sens. Sherrod Brown and George Voinovich, the university will be able to conduct or participate in several projects designed to stimulate economic development, enhance energy security, improve Appalachian health care, and facilitate aeronautic research and development.

A $984,000 appropriation will be used to build a bio-refinery to produce biofuels in support of research and educational programming related to energy security through the Russ College of Engineering and Technology.

Ohio University's Gordon K. Bush Airport in Albany, Ohio, will use $784,000 to enhance safety and upgrade usability for commercial service operations that can aid economic development in Southeastern Ohio. The project will include installing runway lights, building a commercial airplane ramp, building a storage building for support vehicles and snow removal vehicles.

A program called Economic Development through Entrepreneurship in Appalachia will receive $282,000 to expand entrepreneurial assistance to technology companies, business start ups and small companies throughout the southeastern Ohio region.

Just over $191,000 will go to the Appalachian Health Care Access Project, AHCAP, for a health care screening program.